Samantha Kerr Highlights NWSL Team of the Month
The NWSL has announced the Team of the Month for May as top athletes from across the league are recognized for their performances. The NWSL Team of the Month is selected each month of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers that cover the league on a consistent basis.
Related Article: NWSL Player of the Month: Samantha Kerr
NWSL Soccer News: Sky Blue FC forward Samantha Kerr tops the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Team of the Month for May of the 2017 season.
Two players — FC Kansas City defender Becky Sauerbrunn and Boston Breakers midfielder Rose Lavelle — were honored with a position on the squad for the second consecutive month. Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, the No. 23 overall selection at the 2017 NWSL College Draft, joins Lavelle — the No. 1 overall selection — as one of two rookies
The Chicago Red Stars led the squad with four players named to the Team of the Month, followed by Sky Blue FC with three as well as one player each from the Boston Breakers, FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns FC and Seattle Reign FC.
NWSL Team of the Month – May
GK – Kailen Sheridan, Sky Blue FC: Sheridan recorded 19 saves in the month while appearing in all five games for Sky Blue as the rookie helped post a 3-1-0 record.
D – Samantha Johnson, Chicago Red Stars: Johnson started all four games during the month to help the Red Stars finish May tied for the second-best defense (1.00 GAA).
D – Becky Sauerbrunn, FC Kansas City: Sauerbrunn played every minute of all four matches for FC Kansas City during May as she contributed to two shutouts and the league’s lowest goals against average (0.75 GAA).
D – Casey Short, Chicago Red Stars: Short made 12 tackles while featuring in every minute of all four matches during the month as she helped Chicago earn their second shutout of the year in a 2-0 victory against Houston on May 6th.
M – Danielle Colaprico, Chicago Red Stars: Colaprico contributed on both offense and defense as she scored one goal and tallied 10 tackles in four matches during the month.
M – Amandine Henry, Portland Thorns FC: Henry netted the first goal of her NWSL career on May 28th against the Breakers. She also recorded a game-high 87 touches in a 2-2 draw versus the Reign on May 6th.
M – Sarah Killion, Sky Blue FC: Killion scored four goals during the month — three of which came from the penalty spot — to push her total to a league-leading five on the season.
M – Rose Lavelle, Boston Breakers: Lavelle notched her second goal of the season in a 1-1 draw with the Red Stars on May 14th. She did not miss a minute of the four games for the Breakers during the month.
F – Nahomi Kawasumi, Seattle Reign FC: Kawasumi tallied five assists in May — including an NWSL-record four in one match on May 13th versus the Spirit. She also scored the game-winning goal in that match.
F – Samantha Kerr, Sky Blue FC: Kerr had two goals and two assists in five appearances (four starts). Both assists came on game-winning goals.
F – Christen Press, Chicago Red Stars: Press tallied two goals and two assists in four matches. The pair of assists came in back-to-back games and matched output for assists from her previous 42 games in the NWSL.
The NWSL will return to action on Saturday with four matches as the North Carolina Courage take on FC Kansas City at 3:30 p.m. ET in the NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime. The Washington Spirit will then host the Houston Dash at 7 p.m. ET. Portland travels to face Sky Blue FC at 7 p.m. ET and the Orlando Pride squares off against the Boston Breakers at 7:30 p.m. ET.
On Sunday, June 4, the Chicago Red Stars welcome the Seattle Reign FC to town at 3 p.m. ET in the final match before the NWSL observes the international break. The NWSL will resume play with a full schedule of five games on Saturday, June 17th.
Photo Credit: National Women’s Soccer League
